Terrence Lee-Imagn images
The NHL waiver push continues Monday as three teams make veterans available to claim.
Chicago Blackhawks center Andreas Athanasiou, Colorado Avalanche goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Matt Benning are on waivers, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman and TSN’s Chris Johnston.
For each player on waivers, the other 31 NHL teams can claim it before 2:00 PM ET on Tuesday. Otherwise, their current clubs can assign them to the AHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets took advantage of waivers on Sunday when they claimed defenseman Dante Fabbro from the Nashville Predators. The 26-year-old has a cap hit of $2.5 million and 315 games of NHL experience. Benning and Kahkonen have lower hit rates, which doesn’t guarantee either will be claimed, but could cause teams to debate whether it’s worth getting them.
Related: The latest NHL trade buzz about Rasmus Ristolainen and Bowen Byram
Here’s more about each player.
Matt Benning, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs acquired the 30-year-old Benning on October 30 in the trade that sent Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks. Benning played seven games for the Sharks before the trade, posting a minus-5 rating and an average ice time of 13:02, but he has not yet played for the Leafs.
Toronto has a full roster and defenseman Jani Hakanpaa is expected to be activated from long-term injured reserve soon once he receives medical clearance. Benning is in the third year of a four-year contract with a $1.25 million cap hit.
Benning’s played 464 NHL games in his career, recording 17 goals and 85 assists for 102 points between the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators and Sharks. He hasn’t played in the AHL since the 2019-20 season, when he played three games for the Bakersfield Condors.
Andreas Athanasiou, C, Chicago Blackhawks
Athanasiou, meanwhile, hasn’t played in the AHL since the 2015-16 season with the Grand Rapids Griffins. The 30-year-old played 28 NHL games last season in his second season with Chicago, and in five games this year he recorded nine shots and a minus-1 rating in 9:36 of ice time per game.
In 2022-2023, Athanasiou scored 20 goals and 40 points in 81 games for the Blackhawks after signing a one-year contract with them. He then signed a two-year contract worth $4.25 million per season in 2023, but the stats fell short of the deal. After this season he will become a UFA.
Andreas Athanasiou clears waivers. This is good for everyone.
Frank Nazar and Colton Dach, among others, would like to add a forward who is fast in Rockford.
This is a victory for the #Blackhawks. https://t.co/uYDaTdj2BG
— Vinnie Parijse (@VinnieParise) November 11, 2024
Athanasiou has 127 goals and 118 assists for 245 NHL points in 492 games. He had a career-high 54 points with the Detroit Red Wings in 2018-19, and he also played for the Oilers and Los Angeles Kings.
Kaapo Kahkonen, G, Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche claimed Kahkonen off waivers from the Winnipeg Jets on October 11.
The Avalanche have faced performance issues in goaltending to begin the season – Alexandar Georgiev has an .851 save percentage and a 4.04 goals-against average in eight games, while Justus Annunen has a .894 SP and 2.64 GAA in as many appearances. That made Kahkonen a possible solution, but he played just one game and allowed four goals on 20 shots against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The 28-year-old has 140 NHL games under his belt, recording 49 wins, 68 regulation losses and 15 overtime losses between the Minnesota Wild, Sharks, New Jersey Devils and Avalanche. He has a career 3.34 GAA and .898 SP with four shutouts. Kahkoken played two games this season with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles, his first AHL action since 2019-20 with the Iowa Wild.
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